Matt Lodge has launched a stinging attack on Nelson Asofa-Solomona and offered to fight him in a cage in a bid to end the former Storm star’s fledgling boxing career.
Code Sports can reveal Cowboys prop Lodge is in line to fight Asofa-Solomona if ‘Big Nasty’ can dispose of George Burgess in their heavyweight showdown this Wednesday night at Pat Rafter Arena.
Asofa-Solomona’s promoters No Limit have Lodge slated as a potential opponent for a grudge match in December, once the front-rower’s NRL season is over with the Cowboys.
Lodge, the former Broncos hardman, claims Asofa-Solomona has verbally agreed to fight him.
The 200cm Asofa-Solomona has won his first two professional fights, although his most recent victory over former Queensland Origin prop Jarrod Wallace was far from impressive.
Lodge is also unbeaten from two professional bouts and scoffed at Asofa-Solomona’s ambition to win an Australian heavyweight title, pledging to knock him out.
“Hopefully George Rose (No Limit boss) can build a cage and throw us both in there,” Lodge said.
“Put us in a cage and only one of us can come out.
“I would be happy to bash him and then I would give boxing away.
“I don’t see myself doing it full-time.
“I just see someone like him talking the talk and I want to go in there and put on a proper show.
“I would love to fight him. I am ready to go. I just have to get through this footy season and I will jump in with him.
“He has already said he would fight me so he can’t go back on his word now.”
The 31-year-old Lodge has shown impressive power in his two wins, including his most recent victory over Jonasa Kavika in March 2025, flooring the Fijian with a monster right hand.
Asofa-Solomona boasts a savage right upper cut but Lodge said he lacks the ‘ticker’ and work rate to succeed long-term in boxing.
“I grew up playing with him,” Lodge said.
“I know his work ethic and I know what’s between his ears.
“He doesn’t work hard. I’ve got him covered in several areas.
“Obviously I’m busy with my commitments to the Cowboys and the NRL but the season is over I will be excited for it.
“If you watch his last fight, ‘J Wal’ tags him with a backhand, he flicks his chin, no power, and Nelson’s legs started wobbling.
“You can train all the muscles you want but you can’t lift weights for your chin.
“I have a good chin. Nelson doesn’t.
“He has been mouthing off towards me so let’s settle it in the ring.
“I don’t believe he likes getting hit and I will hit him hard.
“Good on him, he is doing his thing, he is now a full-time boxer and I hope he is enjoying himself, but hopefully we are on a collision course and I can knock him out.”